Automatic safety spring-latch



N. E. SALSICH.

AUTOMATIC SAFETY SPRING LATCH. APPLICATION man MAY14. 1920.

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N. E. SALSICH.

AUTOMATIC SAFETY SPRING LATCH. APPLICATION FILED MAY I4. 1920.

1,33%6 Patented (IGI. III, 11921;

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AUTOMATICv SAFETY SPRING LATCH.

APPLICATION FILED M AY 14, 1920.

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y :NEIL n. saneren, or isnrnnnrrnra, PENNSYLVANIA.

TOMATIC SAFETY SFRING-LATCH.

taeaaac. I Application sied May 14,

` Safety SpringlLatches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic locking means for` the switch stand lever arms used 1n throwing the switches along railroad tracks from one posit-ion to another.` lt in cludes improved `meansfor securing those old and known functions` and operations which are desirable in switch mechanism in ,p a more satisfactory way than heretofore, and

means for securing new functions and advantages. In the embodiment of it to be described, it includes a receiving socketfor the switch stand lever arm providedwith a retaining latch freely movable by the dei y scending switch stand lever arm outof its path in entering the socket, but which automatically and bythe action of gravity returns to locking `position over the switch sta-nd lever arm to resist upward movement as soon as the leverarm passes. rl`he latch is furthermore freely movable when not locked by manual means, such as a foot lever` out of retaining position withno resistance to overcome,` save the weight of its over- "balance andthe friction of its bearing, and

isffurther provided with means operated by? the switch` stand lever arm as it reaches `the end of its descent for supplementing the e gravity action and positively movesaid latch to locking position above the lever arm.`

llthese features make it certain that when the `switch stand lever arm is raisedlin operating the switchstand leverarm from one socket and turned and allowed to fall into the other socket under its own weight anflwithout special attention by theswitchman, the arm williwithout obstruction or possible catching go completely home in the socket and be locked against reverse movement and will, at the same time, permit `its release by very little manual effort.` The. latch furthermore y may be positively locked against movement on its support when in position over the lever arm, as by a padlock. `@ne important feature of my invention furthermore is that even while the latch is locked in operative positionthe lever arm may automatically` release itself without breaking or injuring,

, the mechanism when a train trailing through the switch imparts to the switch stand lever Specification ofLetterslatent. Patented @mit lill, 192i.

1920. Serial No. 381,340.

arm extraordinary and very great force, tending to lift it against the latch.` rlhis insures against accidenty or breakage when the train by mistake goes through a switch set against that movement. rllhis result which l believe to be broadly new in switch mechanism of this kind is brought about by mounting the retaining latch at one side of the socket on a supporting member which is movable away from the other side of the socket a sutlicient distance to carry the latch out of the path of the lever arm, but which movement is resisted with considerable force by yielding means such as a spring, the latch beingso lshaped and mounted that the upward pressure of thearm on its lower face under the extraordinary force mentioned `tends'to and does move it and through it, itsr supporting member out of the path of the arm and g thelock which holds the latch against movement on its supporting member ispso arranged that it will not prevent or e interfere with this necessary vmovement of that supporting member and latch. There is a foot lever mounted independently of said movable latch supporting'member for moving the latch on` that member, but there is` no manual operablemeans for moving the supporting member itself. Other novel featuresl will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the drawings.

ln the drawings, c

' Figure l is a plan view of a known switch stand arrangement including my automatic locking mechanism; 1

Fig. 2 is an end view. of my locking mechanism; e Fig. 3 is a vertical section transversely of the lever socket on lines 3-3 ofFigsl and 4L, but leaving thefoot lever in full line except for apart broken away; e

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section looking down Vmember detached, viewed from the left in ln Fig. 1 l have shown a well known form of switch stand l0 secured toand carried by the cross ties l1 of the railroad. Asis well s i l operating the switch. The purpose, functions and operations of these Vieatures will bel understood without 'further descri )tion Y Y l and it will also be understood that it has been v' the practicev Vheretofore to vprovide means more or less automatic to receive and retain the lever arm at the eXtremey horizontal limits of its movement.

My invention relates tol and resides in new and improved latching mechanism to receive and hold down the lever arm, and has the various functions and advantages indicated aboveyincluding great ease and ycertainty of operation and the avoidance of accidental breakage or' unauthorized operation.V The 'socket to receive the lever arm 1d is provided with a fixed 'guide member 16 slightly curved upwardly at the top and preferably Yformed integral with a base 17 which carries and supports theother parts of the latch mechanism.V This base and lined guide member are shown separately in Fig.r G. and is prothe base 17 when the ineinberQO vided with a cylindrical opening` or soclret 18 in its lower portion at one end slightly above the bottom to receive spring` mechanism to be described. Ledges or an abutment y19 are in advance of thejiixed guide 16 to rserve as stop and support for the lever arm '14 when it reaches the bottom of the socket. A movablelatch supporting member 2O is pivotally mounted on a rod or shaft 21 which hasend bearings in the upwardly extending side flanges 22, 23 on the base 17 vbey'ondthe support 19. rl`he lower end of the movable member 2O is rounded at 2e and movesin a rounded depression 25y in the supporting memberl 17, but outl of contact theiewith.v The member 2O furthermore has a straight projecting portion vo'wliich rests on theledge 27 of isin vertical Josition and at the same time the vertical portion of the member 2O opposite the progections constituting the bottom member 19 ofthe socket, rest against those projections additionally serving to hold the member 20 in 'vertical position againstwturtlier movement toward the xed guide member 16. It will be noted that the upper end of the member 20 is rounded 'at 2S. but from that point down to the bottom or" the socket the sufface'i's straight, serving asa guide for the .leverarm 111. AThe'movable latch supporting member 2O is preferably made as shown with the laterally extending flanges 29 at the edge next to the socket with the veitical flanges 30 at right angles thereto within the margin, leaving' a slot 31 through the top of the member 2O at right angles to the path of movement ol the lever arm. A depression l2 is formed in the face of meniber 2O next to the lever space near the bottom and between the projecting ears 26 an opening or passageway 83 is lorined in it not tar above its pivotal support 2l.. The rear llanges 30 are preferably made with their tree edges on an incline, as shown in 't'. is.. rod 34C passes centrally through the chain er 18 and through an opening` 35 at the inner end thereof along a groove 3G iii the upper suriace or the support 19 and then through the opening 33 in the, member 20, and is there provided with a head or cross extension Sie to prevent withdrawal to the right in Fig. lt will be noted that the opening is somewhat larger than the rod so as to permit some relative turning movement. A coiled spring` 3T is placed in the soclrct 1S bearing` against thc inner end around the opening 35 and at the outer end against a washer 38 and the washer in turn bears against a nut or fastening means 39 which may le secured pern'ianently on the rod Elfi by upsetting it. lt will be observed that the spring 3? acting on the washer and the rod 342 tends to hold the movable member 2O in vertical position in the limit of its movement toward the fixed guide 1G, but permits member 20 to turn on the pivot 2l away from the fixed guide member and the tension of this spring is preferably made such as to prevent manual turning ol the memberQO without special lever mechanism.

Mounted in the slot 31 in the upl er portion of the movable supporting member 2G, is a latch el() supported on a pivot pin d1 and this latch is preferably of the shape shown in Fig. 3 where the nose or point l2 projecting out above the Alever arm 1lis somewhat inclined both above and below so that Contact ot the lover with it in entering or caving` will have a wedging action. As will be seen by reference to Fig. 5, the latch has rounded enlargements lll near its dcpending lower end tending to turn the latch on its pivot 41 so as to project into the pat-h of the lever arm and is also provided with side projections Llil adapted to bear against thevertical flanges 8O to limit movement of the latch counter clockwise, and thus preventing the turning oil the latch ou its support by upward pressure ot' the. lever arm against it when in locked position. The latch hl0 in its upward rear portion is prof'ided with a hole 45 to receive a padlock or other forni of lool; which will in coperatioii with the lugs 44;, prevent movement oic the latch in either direction on the supporting member around the pivot 4:1. It will be understood that the lock will come y movement.

a means for positively turning that latch oni its pivot 41 in either direction. lt will be noted that no force or elort isnecessary in moving the latch into or out of operative position `except to overcome the gravity or` weight of` the latch, which tends to hold it in locked position and this is quite insignilicant. rl'he foot lever 46 has at one side a linger or part 50 extendinghorizontally outside o lthe vertical .flange 23 ot the member 17 to a point beneath the lever arm socket,

and is provided with upturned enl 51 which is adapted to` occupy,V a position slightly above the supporting ledge 19 for the lever when the foot lever is turned to the position "which it will occupy when the latch 40 has been moved clockwise bythe descent of the lever arm out of its path. 1t will be under- `stood that any material movement ot `the latch will through the socket 49 acting on the toe 48 move the :toot lever on its pivot 47 just as lany material movement ot' the toot lever moves the latch. In Vthiswayf when the lever arm 14 in passingdown into the socket moves the latch 40 clockwise out of its path, the end 51 connected to the toot lever will` be struck by theA descending arm and this will cause the rotation ot the foot leveron its pivot and through the toe 48 will positively move the latch into position above the lever arm, thus securingpositive latch-V ing as well as the automatic gravity latching` and avoids the possibility ot the lever arm reboundingbefore it 1s caught.

1t. is believed that itwill be fully understoodfrom the structure as above stated that the switchman in operating the switch is rei `duired merely to press his foot lightlvon the foot lever swinging the latch out of the path y ot the lever arm 14 permitting him to `throw that lever arm over to the other side where it will automatically enter the locking socket on that side and be held in place.` On the other hand, any upward movement of the lever arm 14 bearing against the point- ,42

oit the latch1 while it can not turn the latch on its supporting' member 2O whether that latch is locked or unlocked, tends to move the latch and its supporting` member 2O to the lett in Fig; 3 and out of the path of the lever arm and where the upward force is of very Vgreat and extraordinary character as wherea train passes through the switch, the force will be suliicient to move the latch carryingmember 2() and its latch out of the way permitting the lever arm 14 to swing over to the other latch Amechanism without breaking; or damaging the mechanism.

It will be understood that the main supporting* member17 may be secured to the cross tie 1:1 in any suitable way, slots 52 and openings being.;l shown to receive suitable fastening.; devices. Those skilled in the art furthermore will understand the best material to be used in making the various parts ol the mechanism.

Itis to be particularly noted that in this structure, manual operation of the latch carrying" member against the high tension of the spring' 37 is not only unnecessary in the ordinary operation ot the device. but is impossible because oli' the absence of any lever mechanism `for effecting this turning' movement` Having' thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is 1. ln a` locking' mechanism for switch levers, thecombination with a guide member, ot a latch carrying member movable toward and away from said guide member within fixed limits so formed and mounted as to be free from any special means for manually moving it, spring mechanism tending to hold.

vsaid movable member in proper relation to vsaid guide member to receive theswitch arm, an automatic movable latch on said latch carrying member so formed and mounted las to befreely movable by the switch arm in descending, but resisting upward movement of said arm and transmitting the force thereof `to its supporting member to move it and the "latch away from the guide membeil and out of the path ot the lever.`

2., In a. locking' mechanism :for switch levers the combination with a guide member, oit' a. latch carrying member movable toward and away from said guide member within fixed limits so formed and mounted as to be tree from any special means :tor manually moving it7 spring1 mechanism tending to hold.

said movable member in proper relation to said guide member to receive the switch arm ot suliicient A strength to prevent manual movement thereof, an automatic movable latch on said latch carrying member so formed and mounted as to be freely movable by the switch arm in descending` but resisting upward movement of said arm and transmitting the force thereof toits supporting' member to move it andthe latch away from the guide member and out of the path of the lever arm.

3. In a locking mechanism for switch leven automatic movable latch on seid lateh ers the combination with a guide member, of

movement ot said arm and transmittirel the latch earrvingY member so formed and mount- 'orce thereof to its supporting member o move it and the latch awa;Y from-the guide member and out ot the pathot the lever, and manually operable means for moving' said latch on said supporting member out of operative position* v 4e ln locking mechanism tor switch levers, the combination with a guide member, ot a latch Carrying me aber movable toward and away trom seid guide member within xed limits so formed and mounted as to be free 'from any special menne manually moving it, sprfng mechanism tendine` to hold said movable member in iroper relation to said guide r ember to receive the svviteli firm, an automltie movable latch on sai-fl latch 'carryingmember so formed and mounted es to'be treei,v movable by the switch erm in descending, but resisting' upward movement of said arm and transmitting the :torce thereo' toits suppe ting` member to move it and the latch awev from the guide' member and out ot 'the'peth ot the leverr` a toot, lever i'idependent ot said movable member for ing said lateh'on said movable member in either direction.

v a locking mechanism for switch levers?- the combination with :1 guide member, ot e etch cari' Ying member moveole toward and away `from said guide member within fixed, limits so formed and mounted as to be free from any special ineens for manually movingY it, spring` mechanism tendine' to hold said movable member in proper relation to seid guide member to receive the switch erm,

'l and mounted carrying member so *form es to beireel5T movable 'ov e the switch arm in descending', but resist-ing upward movement of said erm and transmitting the force thereoit to its supporting member to move it and the latch away from the guide member end out of the path ot the lever, afoot lever independent ot' seid movable member for moving' said 'latch on seid'moveble member in eitherfdireotion, andan extension on said foot lever in .the path lof and edopted to be Struck b vthe descending switch arm therebv positively moving said letcli'on its support to 'closed position as the lever arm comes to vers, the combination with a guide member, of a. latch Carrying member movable toward and awelv from said guide member within fixed limiti so formed and mounted as to be tree from any special means 'tor manuallyY moving` itj spring mechanism tending: to hold said movable memoer in proper relation to said guide member to receive the switch arm, :in automatic movable latrh ou said latch farr'vin member so termed and mounted as to be ireelv movable b v the switch arm in desc n ling', but resiscing upward niovexnent ot sam arm and ti'an-sn'iitting the 'torre thereot to its` supporting' member to inovc` it and the latel away from the. guide ineinber and out oiir the pali ot the lover. :1nd

means Adel ,u ot the movement ot said movable member tor looking said latvh upgainst movement on said movable. member.

l. ln :t locking mechanism 'to' switch levers the combination with menus eiubiullvingi' l socket ot normally lived width to receive the switch lever arm, one side of the soi-liet,

embo` ying leteh supporting' n'ieinber .vieldinglv movable away trom the other side ol' tile socle-t,y ot a luteh on Suid latch supporting' member so mounted thereon us to uorniallv V uitoinatieallv in locking4 position rem-.in z while beiigr ifreelv movable on said member lout oit the path or the lever erm in its descentbit innnovnble on seid member under upward pressure of the lever erm so torined :ind mouned as to conse the torce ol upwuul pressure of the arm to nieve it :lud its suppf Vne' member :xwav trom the opposite side of the socket and out ot the pnth o? the lever and ineens independent ot the movement oli said movable member itsell Vfor loolving said bitch ngninst movement in .s3/ id s -#porting men'iller.

. lin looking' merlnmism for switch leveis Lhe combinatimi with means embonving a soelet ot nornllj,v tired width to rereive `he witch lever armi one side ow the soclut embodying' a latch supporting; member vxeldreiziin auton'iatiralljv in locking posii while beine' freely movable on said memb .r out ot the path ot the lever arin in -s descent, but immovnble on suid .mcniber unuer upward pressure of' the lover arm so termed und mounted as to cause the torre, upward pressure of the arm to move it supporting" member away trom the p 'ro side ot the socket and out ot the th ot the levern sind lever mechanism tor ing seid latch on its supportinev ineiniei' ineepe identljv ot the movements ol said n a locking' mechanism tor switch lev2 s the eonllination with in ,ais embodying' a socket ot i'iormallv fixed width to receive thel switch lever arm, one side ot the lil() socket embodying a latch supporting member yieldingly movable aavay from the other side of the-socket7 of` a latch on Said latch supporting,member so mounted thereon as to normally remain automatically in locking` position while being freely movable on Said member out of the path ofthe lever arm in its descent but immovable on said member under upward pressure ofthe lever arm so formed and mounted as to cause the force of upward pressure of the arm to move it and its supporting` member away from the limited extent and normally resting by the action of gravity at one limit of its movement in position to lock the lever arm against upward movement .but moving freely to adm it the lever arm, a foot lever having an upwardly extending arm or toe for engaging and moving said latch on its supportingmember into and outof locking position and having an extension adapted to be so moved by said latch in opening that shortly before the latch is in fully open position said en f tension will have risen to a point in the path latch on said supporting member movableV thereon to a limited extent and normally resting by the actionof gravity at one limit of its movement in position to loclr the lever arm against upward movement but moving freely to admit the lever arm, separate means so connected to said latch that each will impart movement to the other in either direction and so that as the latch approaches the limit of its opening movement said means will occupy a position in the path of the lever arm ust above its point of est4 so that it will positively move said latch toward closed position when struck by the lever arm.

12. ln a locking mechanism for switch levers `of railroads the combination of a socket adapted to receive the switch lever arm, manually releasable retaining means for holding said lever arm in said socket would be produced bythe train running through the switch.

13. ln a locking mechanism for switch levers the combination with a guide member of a latch supporting member spaced there- `from to receive the lever arm, an automatic latch on said supporting member movable thereon to a limited extent and normally resting by the action of gravity at one 'limit of its movement in position to lock the lever arm against upward movement but moving freely to admit the lever arm, a foot lever pivoted adjacent the lower end of said supporting member and provided with an upwardly extending projection operatively engaging said latch and a horizontal projecting portion extending across the space between the guide member and supporting member slightly above its bottom in the path of the lever arm.

le. ln a locking mechanism for switch levers, the combination with a guide member, of a' latch supporting member spaced therefrom to receive the lever arm9 an automatic latch pivotcd at its upper portion to the upper portion of said supporting member provided on its lower side with an upwardly extending soclret, and normally resting by gravity in position to loclr the lever arm against upward movement but freely movable to permit the downward entering movement of the lever arm, and a foot lever pivoted adjacent said supporting member having an upwardly extending toe entering said socket of said latch to operate the same in either direction and a projecting portion in the path of the lever arm and adapted to be struck and moved thereby ust before it comes to rest thus positively turning said latch to locked position.

l5. ln a locking` mechanism for switch levers the combination with a guise member of a latch 'supporting member spaced therefrom to receive the lever arm, an automatic latch on said supporting member movable thereon to a limited extent and normally resting by the action of gravity at one limit of its movement in position to lock the lever arm against upward movement but moving freely to admit the lever arm, a foot lever for moving said latch to open position freely movable therewith in either direction but having a part which moves upwardly into the path of said lever arm just above the lower limit of its movement as the latch approaches the limit of its opening movement.

lntestimony whereof l amr: my signature.

NEIL E. SALSICH. 

